The best way to do five things badly is to multitask.  With the TV on, other tabs on the computer screen updating as you write, another device displaying messages with a tone each time a new one arrives, music in the next room loud enough to hear, and a radio playing for good measure, you might find yourself mystified that you forgot what you came into the next room to do.

“I’m losing it,” you might think, not realizing that the “it” is focus, simply remembering to shut off four of the five devices.   Shut off five of them.  There is enough noise without any of them on.

Humans in complex societies are masses of twitching nerves set off by chafing or wistful memories, the many demands of the fleeting moment and often agitated thoughts of the many possible near and distant futures ahead.  Focus is elusive, it has to be practiced every day to have a fighting chance of taking root.  

But you don’t need my blinking, trite words to remind you of that.  Besides, four other things are demanding  our twitchy attention, yea, five other things.

What was I saying?  More importantly, what did I fail to hear this time.